I'm going to unfortunately assume that the heavy focus on combat is that there's only killing people in this game? So, I should forget ever building a diplomatic character again, who doesn't always pull his gun out at the first sight of other survivors?

Gildedtongue:I'm going to unfortunately assume that the heavy focus on combat is that there's only killing people in this game? So, I should forget ever building a diplomatic character again, who doesn't always pull his gun out at the first sight of other survivors?

I think he actually responds to this in the review with Karma. Some things are gonna have to be combatted, but a diplomat with traps could probably work.

He also said that about Mercenaries 1 and 2 and probably 20 other games. You can't fool me Russell!

Hey, it's not my fault they keep making games I would genuinely play until the disc falls apart. But yeah, if I had to live on a deserted island with only one game, it'd be a tough call.

oneofm4ny:Are there quest in the game? If yes what kind of quests? Is the story engaging? Why? How does trading work?

There are quests just like in Oblivion. You have to go find/kill/help someone, etc. You can do them if you want, ignore them if you want. I've been spending my time working on supplemental quests mainly and ignoring the main storyline.

The story is interesting, yes, but for me, Fallout is more about making your own story. Who are you? What are you going to do in this post-apoc world where, literally, anything goes?

Trading works like this: you have something, someone else has something, you trade. Items are assigned a base value in the currency of the realm, bottlecaps. How much you actually get for something you trade depends on your relationship with the trader and your "barter" skill.

Novajam:As for the review, pretty good, but I'm a bit sceptical that you've nothing bad to say about the game.

My problem with this game is that there's too much to say about it, good and bad. I could have filled ten reviews worth on this one, so instead I tried to boil the experience down to the most important points, the points that might influence someone who's on the fence about this game to either give it a try or avoid it.

As for whether or not there's anything bad to say, sure there is. It has flaws. There are minor graphical glitches, for one thing, but I don't think anyone is going to buy or fry this game based on the occasional clipping error.

And besides, there are plenty of reviewers out there who feel they need to make a name for themselves by indiscriminately trashing every game that comes along. If you're looking for negativity, you'll undoubtedly find it. But you won't get it from me about this game. Gears of War 2 maybe, but not Fallout 3.

Gildedtongue:I'm going to unfortunately assume that the heavy focus on combat is that there's only killing people in this game? So, I should forget ever building a diplomatic character again, who doesn't always pull his gun out at the first sight of other survivors?

A diplomatic character will definitely help you in the town, but unfortunately, as in the original Fallout games, there's no avoiding the occasional bit of combat. As the junkie chick in Springvale puts it: "The Wasteland sucks kid. Get used to it." So balancing your character to handle both would serve you well.

Although Archon did happen upon a neat way to handle uncomfortable situations involving a ray gun that hypnotizes other people into doing your bidding, even killing for you. You can also hire henchmen characters who will fight for you, but I don't know yet how successfully.

The point is, this is a role-playing game in the classic vein; you can play it almost any way you like.

Gildedtongue:I'm going to unfortunately assume that the heavy focus on combat is that there's only killing people in this game? So, I should forget ever building a diplomatic character again, who doesn't always pull his gun out at the first sight of other survivors?

A diplomatic character will definitely help you in the town, but unfortunately, as in the original Fallout games, there's no avoiding the occasional bit of combat. As the junkie chick in Springvale puts it: "The Wasteland sucks kid. Get used to it." So balancing your character to handle both would serve you well.

Although Archon did happen upon a neat way to handle uncomfortable situations involving a ray gun that hypnotizes other people into doing your bidding, even killing for you. You can also hire henchmen characters who will fight for you, but I don't know yet how successfully.

The point is, this is a role-playing game in the classic vein; you can play it almost any way you like.

I suppose so. But I have a feeling that it'll be a bit too combat driven. Take the sniper incident you mention. While it's also very, very fun to storm the building S.W.A.T. style, letting the tip of your rifle lead you and scream bloody murder to let the mad sniper defecate in his trousers, would also be interesting (at least, in my opinion...) to also take the role of the Negotiator. Trying to talk him down and such. A similar scene was in Fallout 2 and in the NCR, where a man with a bomb is about to blow himself, his robot, and his not-too-willing co-worker up over his cheating Significant Other. You had three options. You could sneak up behind him and steal the bomb from him. You could quickdraw your gun and give him a quick pop between the eyes, or you could try talking him out of it. All three lead to interesting role-playing.

As a long-time Fallout fan, the thing that really worried me wasn't the shift from isometric to first-person - it was the dialogue, not a traditional Bethesda strong suit. Has this been addressed in a way befitting the first couple of games?

bluerahjah:Overall, I thought the review was pretty good. Although, I didn't see any mention of Dogmeat, and from what I hear, the AI for him wasn't really implemented that well.

He was pretty dumb in the original, too.

I did find him, but I haven't used him much since. Right after finding him I got into some hairy places and sent him away to wait for me. That part works well enough, and it was very sad-making watching him slink slowly away.

bluerahjah:Overall, I thought the review was pretty good. Although, I didn't see any mention of Dogmeat, and from what I hear, the AI for him wasn't really implemented that well.

He was pretty dumb in the original, too.

That he was, I was just hoping that with Bethesda's overhaul, and the fact that Fable II has put so much emphasis on your dog companion, that Dogmeat might be a little more, how do you so, not so much of an idiot.